In an interview at the 1999 International Herb Symposium, Ed Smith, the founder of Herb Pharm, talks about what drew him to studying and eventually growing and processing herbs for medicine in the US.
– Ken McCarthy
PlantWisdom.org
Category Archives: Medicine
Herb Basics 101: Colds and Flus
Note: This is for educational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment, which should only be handled by a licensed professional, is not implied or intended.
Why is winter cold and flu season?
No one knows for sure, but we can guess at some of the reasons:
* Less sunshine and less exposure of the sun to the skin
* People spend more time indoors and away from fresh air and exercise… Read more
Herb Basics 101: Essential Oils vs Tinctures
The information that follows may seem very basic, but if you don’t know certain things and no one tells you – or if people tell you the wrong things – how are you going to know?
First, there is no battle between essential oils vs tinctures. They are simply very different things.
The truth about essential oils
Because there is currently so much misinformation and hype about essential oils, let … Read more
Herb Basics 101: All herbs are not created equal
All herbs are not created equal.
Herbs fall into three general categories:
1. Tonic
2. Medicinal
3. Poisonous
A tonic is something you can consume daily with no ill effects.
Nettle is a good example of a tonic. Oat straw is another. In common parlance, these are “super foods” (just a whole lot cheaper). Consuming them daily is like putting money in your health bank.
A medicinal herb is consumed … Read more
Herb Basics 101: How to make an infusion
Herbals teas are a big business and that’s a good thing. Not everyone wants or needs to drink caffeine when they drink a hot beverage.
But here’s something not even 1 out of 100 people who drink herbal teas know…
The health effects of herbs don’t kick in until the healing properties have been extracted from the plant.
A commercial herbal tea bag steeped for a couple of minutes in … Read more
In praise of plantain
PlantWisdom.org
Insights from the healing forest
Ethnobotanist and herbalist Rocio Alarcon grew up in the Andean highlands of Ecuador in a family that respected and used plants, depending on them for their daily survival.
As a young adult she received an academic training and then went to the Amazon to conduct her real studies.
In this talk from the excellent YouTube channel Herb TV, she discusses the social dimensions of ayawaska use and other shamanic practices … Read more
The other pharmacy
Everyone knows (i.e. has been indoctrinated to believe) that when you’re not feeling well you go to the pharmacy for over-the-counter meds.
Or – if you have the time, the money, the patience and a decent doctor – you go to your doctor for a prescription.
While it’s great that these resources are available when needed, there’s a wee bit of a problem with this:
1. In 2010 alone, there … Read more
Herb Sources
This is a beginning list. We will add to it as we learn of new reliable sources.
Green Terrestrial
(802) 375-8087
– Ken McCarthy
PlantWisdom.org
What is herbalism’s proper role?
Herbalism is not science “lite.”
It’s also not an alternative therapy.
It’s a sophisticated healing system unto itself that has played and continues to play an essential role in the care and survival of the human race.
This is a talk that David Hoffman gave to the American Herbalists Guild Symposium in Portland, Oregon on November 5th, 2005.
In it he addresses the subversion of herbalism by Big Business and … Read more